ANCYL hijacked youth event - report

Johannesburg - Weeks before the controversial World Festival of Youth and Students began, the ANC Youth League secretly hijacked the event.

Its first step was to order the ­national youth development agency (NYDA) to kick out a multi-party committee which had already raised millions for the event.

The agency, which is populated with former and current youth league leaders, made exorbitant payments to ANC and youth league-connected businesspeople and artists for last December’s controversial event, which cost R106m in Lotto and taxpayers’ money.

Three independent sources close to the festival’s organisation, the agency and the youth league described how the league seized control of the event.

The national preparatory committee, which had managed to advance arrangements for the festival at a fraction of R106m, was dissolved by the agency’s chairperson Andile Lungisa, a senior youth league member, last November.Millions

The committee was formed to raise funds and organise the festival as the agency had believed it wouldn’t be eligible to source Lotto funding and money from other government departments because it is a government entity.

But once it became clear that millions could be raised, according to the sources, the youth league’s ­national working committee met in November and resolved that the agency should dissolve the ­planning committee.

Planning co-ordinator Abner Mosaase was replaced by the league’s then secretary-general Vuyiswa Tulelo.

Former planning committee member Xhaka Kholekile Sasha said: "We mobilised and raised funds... but when the huge amounts of money started flowing in, we were removed. We were then falsely accused of opening an ­account to steal money."

Further control over the event and the cash came when events-management company Global Interface, appointed to run the ­festival and raise money, was forced to pull out.

Guarantees

Global Interface director Khosi Thabethe said: "We couldn’t commit ourselves without guarantees that deposits would be paid. We ­only had an appointment letter and nothing else.

"We wrote to them ­several times and there was no ­response, so we decided to walk away.”

The agency claims that most of the irregular spending incurred for the festival was because Global Interface had failed to deliver on the terms of an agreement with them, sparking an organisational crisis.

Global Interface denies this.

An insider present at a special youth league executive meeting, where the decision was taken, said Mosaase was humiliated and ­ridiculed by the league’s leader, Julius Malema, when he tried to find out why he was being removed.

An insider who was present said: “It was a mafia-style takeover.”

The agency’s chief executive, Steven Ngubeni, who is a former youth league deputy secretary ­general, said: “It is not true [that the planning committee was removed after securing funding] there wasn’t a single commitment [from funders]. Fundraising was done by the agency and some planning ­committee members."

Repeated attempts for comment from Lungisa were unsuccessful.

Comments

chris.khanye - 2011-10-23 14:14

Not surprising ANCYL hijacks everything in its sight - even the President of the country. But when the President escapes from the clutches of the league - marches are organized to depose him. This is Malema trying to overthrow a democratically elected President of SA. I guess Malema is bringing Tunisia, Egypy, Bahrain and Syria home. And am tempted to say: the Libyan revolution actually appeals to Malema. The 2 days marches is what Malema was proposing for Botswana opposition. DA is the official opposition and ANCYL the unofficial opposition. ANCYL is now opposing a government they uncouthly helped to bring to power in 2009. The NYDA were "first" to propose bringing the country to its knees 2 months ago. This isn't rocket science - NYDA was doing ANCYL biddig and SA taxpayers are going to pay for the transport to Malema Spring. And now ANC has to contend with two forces hell-bent to depose it from the echolons of power - DA plus ANCYL. It's not funny!

rbphiri - 2011-10-23 18:08

If the ANCYL dropped its corruption, its body mass would be zero.

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 17:32

and yet most of you still label the ANCYL as "stupid savages"....they are dangerous, stupidity is ignorance and thinking you are holier that others...like most of you

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 17:43

The ANCYL understand nothing about poverty alleviation, nothing about economics, and nothing about racial harmony. They only know how to get rich and create division.

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 18:16

@Thandiwe...you claim "they only know how to get rich and create division"...what are you gonna do about that?...Nothing. just more YADA YADA

rbphiri - 2011-10-23 18:19

Yes I also firmly believe woodwork will change the world. Wakeup SimnikiweNtingi...tell me one positive thing the league has done for you? I bet you have endless answers of what they havnt done.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 18:19

I am doing something. I employ 5 engineers in my small business. Ancyl just want to steal the private sector money and set up inefficient state run operations. We are economically free - I have bought shares, a small farm and have a small business. Don't let malema tell you you are pathetic and unable to participate economically - you can - I do!

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 18:23

Nationalisation will ruin the country and all my workforce will lose their jobs. Tax inflows will be annihilated!

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 18:35

@Thandiwe..."We are economically free"...who? you and an elite few whilst the rest of the country starves. The ANCYL is trying to empower us all, that may not be possible, but atleats they are trying. Nationalisation will result in job creation for alot of people.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 18:38

YOU are free to start a business like me

Reshan - 2011-10-23 18:48

@SimnikiweNtingi
"We are economically free"...who? you and an elite few whilst the rest of the country starves
So u admit the ANC is filled with corrupt politicians only out for personal gain? Come next election who are your voting for?

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 18:48

@Thandiwe...thanks for the advice. Starting my own business would mean that I could be able to employ other people and help them to put bread in their tables. Was actually thinkin about doin that after I finish my studies.

Yar - 2011-10-23 18:52

@Thandiwe
Good on you girl.
SimnikkiweNthingi would like what you have got, he is just terrified about having to work for it and take a few risks.

Michele - 2011-10-23 19:14

@ simnikiweNtingi - third year of varisty and you still dont know the difference between pre- and post-? Deleting idiotic comments doesnt make ppl forget them - if a third year varisty student makes racist comments without using the correct words, we never need to wonder again how the ANC and ANCYL has such power over you and your peers (and thus over the intelligent minority too)

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 19:22

@Michele lol That was an honest mistake , news24 must have removed it lol *hides*

Juan - 2011-10-23 19:24

@simnikiwe your'e in your 3rd year of university education, and still lack a basic understanding of economics and how wealth in a country is created, just like your ANCYL buddies.
The universities must have lowered their standards.

Yar - 2011-10-23 19:25

@Ntingi
You are in your 2nd year at varsity. No wonder you know everything!!
As for "white tendency - assuming blacks are lazy", that is total garbage. Certainly Thandiwe sounds as though she is proof that this isn't the case.
You better get off this web site and get back to your studies. You must be writing exams about now. If you fail you will be doing 2nd year again.
I finished Varsity nearly 40 years ago and have run my own businesses for nearly 20 years. You will only discover what hard work, risk and responsibility mean a long time from now.
Now log off the internet and get back to your studies. First knowledge, then work, then experience and last some humility.
I don't want to see you wasting any more time.

shaun.botsis - 2011-10-23 19:34

1 question and if you can answer with a truthfully positive answer i'll be surprised.
What has the ANCYL actually done to help anyone ?
To me the leaders of the ANCYL all seem like a bunch of opportunistic uneducated fools. Its so easy to promise things like jobs, free education etc. Or even better, the nationalisation of mines will create jobs for all.
But when will their dear followers ask HOW ? How will you create jobs, and give me free education. The leaders of the ANCYL wont be able to answer that question because they have not thought that far.

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 19:35

@Yar...another weak opinion...dude, I've been studying for the whole week. I rest on sundays and just do BS...I'll be on the grind tomorrow till saturday. Not on Sundays papa

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 19:41

@S. I employ black and white people and find none of them racist. What's more none of my white or black friends from my engineering masters course are racist. Compare Zim, 95% employment and virtually no growth with the market friendly Botswana which is growing amazingly. I would not want ancyl economic policy here in SA. I want Trevor Manuel style economic policy. We must grow not destroy what is already there. Let's add to what we have not take away a lot and then only add a little.

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 19:42

@Shaun..."What has the ANCYL actually done to help anyone ?...they've empowered me to be proud of being black and fight hard for what I believe in. I believe in equall opportunities for everyone. Thats what the ANCYL believes in too, but then again you are too "white" you wont understand that. You want everything all to yourselves, you don't want to share.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 19:51

Ancyl rhetoric is actually anti-minorities, and I have never heard them say anything about equality. Malema oozes hatred from where I am standing. I am proud to be South African!

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 19:59

@Thandiwe, by racist whites Im refering to those who keep insultin us (blacks)...don't tell me you haven't noticed that. or you just don't care...fine by me if you want to roll over and play dead while whites have a go at us ( blacks)... Im not gonna play dead.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 20:04

Of course there are some racist whites - there are also racist blacks like Floyd and Juju who are equally an embarrassment to the rainbow nation - that's before I mention their soviet economic policies

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 20:29

I'd love to live in a society free a hatred towards people of different race from you. Would really love to...but I guess that would never happen. In this world it's every man for himself, get rich or die trying , and when you make it, don't give a f*ck about others. Feel sorry for blacks though, they were oppressed by whites and now they are oppressed by their own government. Life is a b*tch...bambelela mntu 'omnyama kuzo lunga one day.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 20:32

Nobody is oppressed brother. Let's just get on with starting our own businesses etc and get on with life

SimnikiweNtingi - 2011-10-23 20:38

I guess so...I salute every black man and woman thats out there doin it for themselves. Big up!!!....am gonna do it big for my self, family and community. Am gonna succeed, and no white man is gonna stop me, not even a black one lol

Thandiwe - 2011-10-23 20:43

I salute every man and woman out there doing it regardless of colour. Let's ALL contribute.

Mike - 2011-10-23 21:03

@SimnikiweNtingi@ I looked at your profile and I must tell you that you can be proud of your ambition, your desire to be successful, those are values I've taught my sons. You clearly understand what the route to success is. When you finish your studies you will pursue your dreams. I don't think anyone can attack you for wanting to be successful and it would appear that race is a red herring here and unfortunate. Nobody needs to make you feel proud for being black you should be proud of yourself anyway. Be proud of the things you do and how you do them. You don't need some charlatans and clearly populist organizations to affirm your self esteem.

reynard.j.debeer - 2011-10-24 02:49

Yo SimkiweNtingi, Im a young person just like you living in the NEW SA, you don't seem to be accepting of all citizens of your country when you continue to paint everyone with the same brush... I see people for their contributions and who they are as a person, before I start saying all "blacks" are criminals, or all "whites" are racist, how about all "women cant drive" ? Please use your head, and realise not everyone is the same!

Stephan - 2011-10-24 07:14

The one thing we all have to start to realise in this country, is that there are no such thing as a homogenous group of white people, or a homogenous group of black people. We are people, intricate and complicated. I am for instance and Afrikaner, but I am also an African, a South African, a urbanite, an artist, and I can go on. My whiteness doesn't define me, it is one part of a bigger me. So when you, Simnikiwentingi mention that white people are insulting black people, you are responding to one individual, by insulting a group. That does not help. When an individual says something we don't agree with, attack that individual. Let us forget the small things that divide us, and focus on the bigger things that unite us. We all want a better future for our kids, we all want quality education and healthcare, we all want to be able to feel safe. Let us fight anyone who is not helping achieve those ideals, the corruption and crime that is tearing our country apart.

an0nthinker - 2011-10-23 17:40

Typical! Once the corrupt ANC reladies they could steal money, then they took an interest. Thug behaviour as usual!

Michael - 2011-10-23 17:52

OMG if this is true I am absolutely gutted. How many jobs can you create and/or houses can you get with RM100?

stevie0064 - 2011-10-24 08:36

If I'm not mistaken, the DA's website has a rolling tally of the ANC's wasteful expenditure given in terms of how many rdp houses that theoretically could have been built instead.

braamc - 2011-10-23 18:08

What I absolutely love about articles like this is, the ANCYL are doing so well that people hate them so much that hopefully sooner than later ruling party will crumble and crumble even more, unfortunately at the expense of society.

Michele - 2011-10-23 18:49

SimnikiweNtingi... The DA has never had an unfair advantage "post 1994". Typical woodwork academic, not knowing the difference between pre- and post- , and your comments support this too.

Janine - 2011-10-23 18:33

And the truth finally emerges. And Malema has the absolute nerve to compare himself with Nelson Mandela! Is this how his lavish lifestyle gets funded?

Brian - 2011-10-23 18:50

YOU CAN STOP EVERY THING TO DO WITH LOTTO

Kevin - 2011-10-23 19:56

Dear Mr Ntingi, please tell me how the ANCYL is going to provide work and opportunities for EVERY single Member of theirs?? Do the maths - they are stealing more money than using it to provide their Members with work, etc. Do another maths calculation - take the total income of the 'rich' in SA, divide it by the number of 'disadvantaged' people and see how much each of them would get - peanuts......The ANYCL will have to find another way to back up their implausible promises. So far, it's been all talk and nothing more!!

cecilhstephens - 2011-10-23 20:45

Like father like son

Maximus Odinidus - 2011-10-24 02:39

I know I'm a little late to comment on this statement but the president was not democratically voted for. The ANC was democratically voted for as was displayed when our former president (whom I respect way more than mshimiwam) was removed from office during his term and replaced. In that instance already I could see the direction the anc was taking. Open your eyes. The prez is just a face.

Kevin - 2011-10-24 05:56

The trouble with ancyl greying middle aged leaders is they could not give a toss about the youth and behave like stupid thugs with government money . Maybe zoomer deserves all the slaps fat boy dishes out.Cut ancyl budget by 80% as it is a useless waste of money. Set an age limit for the youth league . say 23 and out you go.

Sláine - 2011-10-24 08:17

Affirmative Action
" South Africa is the only country in the world where affirmative action is in the favour of the majority who has complete political control. The fact that the political majority requires affirmative action to protect them against a 9% minority group is testament to a complete failure on their part to build their own wealth making structures, such that their only solution is to take it from others."
London Times

Jason - 2011-10-24 08:18

ANCYL noting more than a militant group

Bokfan - 2011-10-24 09:44

Thieves and boneheads supported by the friends of thieves and boneheads.
The yob league is nothing more than a front for the worst gangsterism this side of Chicago in the 30's